Charles Matthews' introduction to John Beilein's system came with constant — and probably annoying — repetition.

A renowned stickler for detail and routine, Beilein doesn't just chart a game or a practice, he splits hairs on every level. He tracks the way his players catch the ball with two feet. How their shooting form looks. How long they sit in a cold tub.

Every stat. Every minute. Every day.

Over the course of Matthews' redshirt season a year ago, Beilein found himself repeating the same phrase in practice over and over again.

"We keep track of every assist and every turnover in every practice," Michigan's coach recalled Thursday night. "And I would yell out 'Turnover, Matthews' every time he (had one)."

It almost sounds like a nickname.

Matthews' journey from Kentucky's free-wheeling offense to U-M's structured attack has been well-documented. The raw talent was always there, but whether Matthews would be able to realize what this offense can do for his complete game was the bigger question.

During the second half of a comeback win over UCLA two weeks ago, Beilein stopped everything in a huddle and sarcastically congratulated Matthews on being the Bruins' most valuable player before, of course, reminding him he was playing for Michigan.

His game had been all over the place. The turnovers were creeping up again; the shot selection wasn't great.

But Matthews didn't shrink in the moment; he responded. And over his last four games, the Chicago native is averaging 20.8 points and 6.3 rebounds. He's shooting 62 percent from the field and 46 percent from 3-point range.

"He's gaining more and more confidence," Beilein said Thursday night. "He's starting to understand how this all works."

He's far from a finished product, but that's what excites Michigan's coaching staff. Matthews is still shooting just 52.5 percent from the foul line and, as Beilein likes to point out, he still has "one (moment) where 'I'm going to drive down the lane, jump in the air and then throw it in the stands,' he has like one of those per game."

But Matthews' overall comfort and feel for his role on this team seems to be increasing each game.

On Thursday, the Wolverines once again played without star center Moritz Wagner, who is day-to-day with what Michigan is calling a minor foot bruise. Matthews knew he needed to take charge of the offense, so he did. He knew A&M didn't have a player on the floor who could stay in front of him, so he attacked the rim.

He took 15 shots and made 12. Beilein couldn't find fault with one of those attempts.

But Matthews is quick to point out he's not just about point totals these days. His journey toward the midway point of U-M's season has taught him that he's a player this group relies on to be consistent when things aren't going great.

He and Wagner are this team's best players. And when they're on the floor, he says, it's their job to act like it.

"My mindset is never just to come out here and score and shoot, I'm trying to become an effective leader," Matthews adds. "I feel like these guys look up to me, at times, when things get rough. So I'm trying to stay level-headed."

The bigger test is still in front of Matthews, though, as the Wolverines will re-enter Big Ten play Jan. 2 at Iowa. Matthews will find himself in the physical gauntlet of a Big Ten schedule — facing the opposition's top defender every night — for the first time.

It'll be another opportunity to learn and grow.

And Beilein can't wait to see it.

"When he slows down and sees it (he's in a groove)," he says. "I can't tell you how receptive he is to coaching. It's just 'yes sir, no sir.' He's just getting better and he's recognizing his mistakes. The 3-point shot is what we were all waiting on, we saw it last year but when the lights are on (it's different).

"But he's got a norm he can be at (now). And then that jump shot in traffic where he just jumps over everybody, that's very hard to stop."